Jesus was constantly under observation by people who would like to test his authenticity. But he could also turn the table around and place the same people under scrutiny. Invited to eat the Sabbath meal at the home of a Pharisee and in the company of other Pharisees “observing Him carefully”, Jesus brought attention to all patterns of behavior proper to those who would be reclining at the table in the kingdom of God (Luke 14:1.7-14).
The humble guests
In the company of His critics, the guardians of the Sabbath verifying for themselves if he could be pressured to observe all the Sabbath rituals, Jesus instead brought to their attention some relevant observances as vital as the Sabbath law. The scrambling of those invited to the table of the prominent Pharisee for the coveted seats of honor led Jesus to share with them a parable, or more appropriately a symposion or a banquet discourse. Do not presume to yourself that you should have a seat of honor when invited anywhere. Let it be given to you by the host. Otherwise, you may be courting embarrassment when having so positioned yourself self-importantly, the host should come to tell you to vacate the place which has been reserved for somebody else more important. This proper behavior actually is what we are told from of old: “Claim no honor in the King’s presence, nor occupy the place of great men; for it is better that you be told, ‘Come up closer’ than that you be humbled before the Prince” (Proverbs 25:6-7).
More than just a lesson in etiquette, Jesus is echoing here once more the eschatological truth we discussed last week. Concerning admission into the kingdom of God, do not presume to yourself to be God’s favorite. Because of pride and presumptuousness one can end up locked out of that narrow gate, which demands humility and self-divestment of airs incongruous in God’s banquet. In that banquet, those who have been exalting themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted. As we have earlier heard from Jesus, those who think of themselves as first will be last, and those who are considered last will be first.
The good host
Jesus next turned His attention to the host who had invited them to dinner. This leading Pharisee had invited others like himself, persons whose social standing would reflect well on him and his family, and who would be expected to reciprocate the favor and likewise invite the host to their own homes. The repayment in this social give-and-take is thus assured. Jesus averred shockingly, better invite people who would not be able, nor expected, to recompense you. These are the poor and the disabled who could not pay back any act of generosity toward them; on the contrary, they might even bring shame and embarrassment to their host.
When the poor, the cripple, the lame and the blind have become our preferred guests, then the reign of God has come among us, in as much as God has a special love for the poor and the disabled (Luke 4:18). These whom the world rejects would be the special guests at the banquet of the kingdom. Jesus challenged His host and everyone else to show a truly altruistic love for the outcast and the downtrodden. The only payment would be from God “in the resurrection of the righteous.” This kind of charity (like that of our Gina Lopez) makes palpable to us the reality of God’s grace, His gift of love to us. We do not deserve it, nor can we buy it; we cannot earn it, nor can we repay it. And God wants us to be instruments and channels of such amazing grace in the world—that is when we learn to care for those who cannot pay us back.
Alálaong bagá, the behavior Jesus expects of us is proper to God’s children who have realized that it is entirely divine gift that we are invited to His banquet. It humbles us to understand how unworthy we are of this tremendous attention. We can only accept in faith such undeserved love and try to share the same with others.
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